Air Power Archaeology

The Historical Archaeology of Second World War Air Power in Australia
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Welcome...

The Air Power Archaeology website has been developed by Daniel J. Leahy as part of his PhD project at the University of New England. The project looks at the historical archaeology of Second World War air power sites across Australia. The online database currently includes profiles for...

599
SITES
221,537
PERSONNEL
7,838
AIRCRAFT
722
UNITS

Website functionality is being made publicly available as the project progresses. It is planned that the website will continue to grow and evolve once the PhD project has been completed.

On This Day

Died 10 May 1944:
Flight Sergeant
RICHARD WILLIAM ASH, RAAF

Parafield, South Australia - 1 May 1940 to 31 May 1940 (NAA: A9186, 375)

The three pupils of No. 29 Course who were kept back for further training, completed their course satisfactorily on 2/5/40 and were sent on leave prior to joining their new Unit.
On 7/5/40 the Unit was inspected by the A.M.O.E. (Air Marshal R. Williams) in company with the A.O.C. (Air Commodore H.N. Wrigley) who left again on 10/5/40 when a short inspection of the Station was made by the A.M.P. and S. (Mr. Cameron).
Three Officers were posted away from the Unit during the month including Flight Lieutenant A.N. HICK who was replaced as Chief Flying Instructor by Flight Lieutenant K.R. PARSONS, and Flying Officer J.W. WARWICK was appointed to command "A" Flight.
The training of No. 30 Course progressed satisfactorily and on 27/5/40 No. 1 Course commenced flying training concurrent with the Initial Training Sullabus.
One aircraft was damaged during forced landing practice on 6/5/40. Neither occupant was injured.

Corowa, New South Wales - 1 May 1942 to 10 May 1942 (NAA: A9186, 297)

A preliminary inspection of suitable buildings for workshops and quarters was made by Officers from RAAF Headquarters, these buildings being later impressed by Army Hirings Albury. (Dates not known)
The local Aerodrome Corowa was also taken over, surveys made and comprehensive plans for the construction of a larger Aerodrome, with dispersed hangars and workshops was drawn up and work on the Aerodrome was commenced by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission of New South Wales.

Livingstone (34-Mile), Northern Territory - 10 May 1943 (NAA: A9186, 143)

Fine and hot. At LIVINGSTONE two aircraft scrambled, but nil interception was effected. Five aircraft scrambled at MILLINGIMBI, the sixth, belonging to F/O Hamilton was unserviceable, and F/O Hamilton remained in the cockpit to control the rest of the aircraft by means of his radio and the messages passed on to him from the Operations Room. The pilots engaged were F/Lt. Watson, P/O Morse, P/O Little, F/Sgt. Watson and F/Sgt. Batchelor. At 9000 feet F/Sgt. Batchelor reported nine enemy fighters in Vics of three and shortly afterwards a general dog fight ensued, during which F/Sgt. Watson shot down a Zeke in flames and damaged another, P/O Morse destroyed a Zeke, and P/O Little probably destroyed a Zeke.
During his first engagement with an enemy fighter P/O Little's trim was damaged, and he returned to base. While rolling along the runway he saw three Zekes approaching, and, opening everything up, he took off and circled, caught up with the last of the three Zekes, which were in line and strafing the runway. A dog-fight then followed with the last Zeke and P/O Little. It lasted for ten minutes, and consisted of a series of climbing turns from 100 feet to 300 feet above the aerodrome. During one manouevre, and whilst at low level, P/O Little took his eyes off the enemy aircraft, and found himself approaching the ground, which he struck at 160 mph with the air-scoop of his aircraft, somersaulting three times and rolled, losing tail unit, both wings and the airscrew. The Zeke fired around the wreckage, and when the enemy had departed P/O Little climbed out with abrasions to both elbows, scalp and forehead, and walked two or three miles back to the aerodrome. The enemy aircraft was reported to have a damaged motor, but it was not seen to crash near the island, although an explosion was heard in the direction whence it departed.

Database Updated:
8 May 2024
2:52:07 PM (AEST)
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging.